Mesoamerican Day Signs

The post below is mainly intended for students reading my Garza Twins series, but the information may be useful for others as well. Most societies in pre-Columbian Mexico (Aztec, Maya, Mixtec, etc.) used a complex system to keep track of dates. Basically there were two overlapping calendars in this system: a 365-day…

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Visiting the Mayab

My family and I spent about a week in Yucatán and Quintana Roo, visiting Maya ruins and beaches (y devorando la increíble comida regional). I got in a ton of research for a book I’m planning, and I was able to continue learning Yucatec Maya. A wonderful time, often a…

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Glossary for The Smoking Mirror

I’ve created a list of mythological characters, objects, places and concepts mentioned or featured inThe Smoking Mirror. Here’s an audio recording of these words to help with pronunciation. Acolmiztli—A black puma who leads the Balamija in the second level of Mictlan Ahuiateteo—Gods of vice and excess. ahuitzotl—(pl. ahuitzomeh) “Water dog,”…

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